Automatic feed for box making machines



Sept. 4, 1956 T. L. SARGENT AUTOMATIC FEED FOR BOX MAKING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 15. 1,950

IYTVEZVZET" Theodore L. Sarge)?! ffqE Sept. 4, 1956 T. L. SARGENT AUTOMATIC FEED FOR BOX MAKING MACHINES 5 sneaks-sheet 2 Filed Feb. 15. 1950 u M h.

IZTFEZTZ UT Theodore L. 501 rgenf 5y 2/ MW Sept. 4, 1956 "r. L. SARGENT 2,761,359

AUTOMATIC FEED FDR BOX MAKING MACHINES Filed Feb. 15, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Z2772 27 ZLUT" Theodore L. Sargenl K 5272,75

Sept. 4, 1956 Filed Feb. 15. 1950 T. L. SARGENT AUTOMATIC FEED FOR BOX MAKING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 ITYVE 77 22:7 7

Sept. 4, 1956 'r. L. SARGENT AUTOMATIC FEED FOR BOX MAKING MACHINES 5 Sheeis-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 15. 1950 127.75 27 Z23? T/zeoaore L. Saryem United States atent 5 AUTOMATIC FEED FOR BOXMAHIG-MACl-HNES Theodore-L. Sargent, Ber wyn, Ill. enn ic fi'qn Eeb a y 95 2 ..S 9-.1 V 9. .5 Claims. ((Jl. 93-64) T i ent n relates imnwvemsnt i 'bQ ma in machinery. Moreparticularlygjithas todo with improvenients'in automatic mechanism for feeding a box'and a wrapper to a folding machine where the wrapper is folded around the box.

In the processof makingcertaintypes of cardboard boxes as, for example, the flat boxes i whichcandies are ,sold, a-cardboard shell isfirst formed and thenpa decorative outer-Wrapper is secured thereover. 7

At present this wrapper is {applied in the following manner. An operator sits alongside a 'ponveyor 'lt facing the belt and facing a folding machine WhiQhLlS disposed adjacent theopp ositefside ofvthe belt. Asupply ;of;cardboard vbox shells are stacked near the operator. A feeding and gluing machine places wrappers on thecon- .veyor belt at a pointremote frornthe operatorfs ation with their finished sides faced downward {and 'th unfinished, upturned sides coated with glue. The conveyor b i per di l y index to m t e rapper 99. secutivelyftoward the operators station.

Whe Wr pe is rme v inr on Q th cperiat l s centers a cardboard shell on the wrapperand then, reaching across the belt, positions the wrapper and the shell under a forming plunger of the folding machine. As' the plunger descends, it takes theboxout of the [hand of "the operator and continues downwardly in the floldi'ng operation.

procedure has severaldisadvantages. First, the .positioning of the shell and wrapper under the plunger 'is dependent upon the skill 'of the operator. flfflieiflltill is riot positioned accuratcly, the box is liable to be crumpled .or broken along the sides. Secondly, 'th'eopa mus t' at b'.P i han s u de hem vins plunger of the folding machine, thus 'runni;ng the risk of 'havinghis hands caught in the mechanism; It wilrbe .readily appreciated that a tired operator wouldnot only spoil a lalrge qua'ritity 'ofbo'xesbutlwould beinfcon'stant danger of being injured.

'It isftherefore, animportantobject of thisinv nti on to ,provide a device for automatically and mechanicallyfieefd- 'ing box shells and wrappers to a folding machine.

,Another object of this inventionis toiprovide afeedi s d etha o s o req r h vic s ai ls lls o'pera .A further object of this invention is the provision of a feeding device that is simple in design and efiieient in op r t n A stiIl further object of this'inventionis topro "de a feeding device which may be used with any staglard s n ne ndfo eq p n on th ma ket- Accor'ding tothe features of thepresent inven'tion the operators 'stationis now located alongside the conveyor belt but at a distance away from the foldingfniachine eq a to t d s an e b lt w itr e hsni flexe twice A this t n den ifie as s a ion No 1, the only duty of the operator, who may be an lunskilled workeig'is to centerthe box shell on the glued apper. The wrappers are larger tha'n'th'e shells and'have 'a cen- 2,761,359 F'atented Sept. 4, 1955 ICC 2 tral portion underlying the shell and four side flaps which are arranged to be folded up along the sides of the shell and then down into the shell along the inner walls thereof.

When the conveyor belt is indexed, the shell and the wrapper are moved to station No. 2 where a horizontal fluid power cylinder is mounted laterally of the conyeyof belt. The plunger of the cylinder overlies the belt and carries a pusher plate which contacts the shell 'andthe wrapper and moves them laterally across the belt to a position where one flap overhangsthe edge of the belt. "The plunger of a second, vertically acting fluid cylinder moves fipwardly alongside the conveyor belt and contacts the overhanging flap to wipe it up against the side of the box shell. The two plungers' are then retracted and the conveyor belt is'indexed to rnove the .shell andlthe wrapper to station No. 3.

At station No. 3, a fluid cylinder is mounted adjacent the conveyor belt at the position formerly occupiedby flthjepperator. The cylinder has a rod extending over the conveyor "belt which is equipped with a pusher plate for contacting'theshell and urging it and the wrapper-laterally off thezbelt and under the plunger of the folding machine.

It will be recognized that the one flap is folded up at station No. 2 so that it will not be crumpled or twisted as the box is pushed laterally at stationiNo. 3.

Thus, according to the present invention, at consecutive stations the shell is centered on a glued wrapper, the shell and the wrapper are moved laterally -to"'a point Where one fiap' is folded up against the side of the shell, and finally-the shell and wrapper are positioned under the plunger of thefolding machine.

Other and further features, objects and advantages .of the present invention will be apparent to one skilled in the art from thefollowing detailed descriptiontalien in connection with theaccompanying drawings.

'O'nthe drawings: V

Figure l is atop plan view of a feeding device constructed according to the teachings of the present invention and shown as mounted on a standard gluing and folding machine;

Figure 2 is-a side elevational view of the machine of gu Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on line -H-'I' IH of Figure 2 showing the shell positioned on the glued Wrapper; I j

Figure 4 a vertical sectional view similar to Figure 3 but showing one flap of the wrapper folded against one side face of the shell, which operation takes place at at NQ- 1;

Figure -5 is a vertical sectional view similar to Figures 3 and 4 and showing the box in its finally wrapped condition;

Figure 6 is a-fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on line VI--VI of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, similar to Figure 6, illustrating an advanc'ed stag e ofrthe 91 3 95 V I v V v j Figures is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on line VIIL-VIII of Figure 1;. and i Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of the control circnit used with the mechanism of the'inventio nl j As' shownon the drawings:

In Figures 1 and 2, the reference numeral 10 indicates a conveyorbelt that is disposed ateither end around rollers Hand 13. 'The roller'12 is rotatably nausea oil a gluing and belt indexing rnac h iI1e 15, whilethe r'ouef'r 13 "is journaled in hearings on a platform 1 7 "of a folding machine 19.

The gluing machine 15 forms no part of this invention since it is a standard machine used to put g lue on the wrappers and deposit the wrappers 'on the conveyor belt consecutively. This machine is equipped with a one revolution clutch which, when energized through a switch, generally indicated by the reference numeral 20, advances the conveyor belt a predetermined distance. The machine 15 also has a rotating shaft 22 which is coordinated with the movements of the conveyor belt and which carries an arm 23. The arm 23 is arranged to trip a switch 24 during its rotation for a purpose to be explained hereinafter.

The folding machine 19 includes an upright support structure 26 on which is secured the table 17 by means of bolts 27 through a flange portion of the table. A vertical shaft 29 is journaled in the upright support structure 26 and is driven through bevel gears 28 from an electric motor 29a. At the upper end of the shaft 29 a cylindrical cam 36 is keyed thereon having a cam slot 31 in which a roller follower 34:1 is disposed. An arm 35 is pivotally attached to a sliding bar 36 at one end and at the other end pivotally carries the roller follower 32. The bar 36 is slidably guided in ways 37 which are supported by means of a connecting arm 39 from the main support structure 26. At its lower end the bar 36 carries a plunger 40 which is of a size to fit inside the box shell as it descends. This folding machine 19 is not a part of this invention, and the operation of the folding machine after it contacts the box shell and starts the folding operation will not be described in detail. In general, the plunger 40 moves downwardly into the box shell and presses the box into an aperture 42 in a second table surface 43 extending laterally from the upright support structure 26. As the plunger continues its downward movement, the flaps of the wrapper are folded over the edges of the shell and down along the inner side walls thereof. The plunger then moves back up to release the box at the surface of the table 43 from which position it is removed by the contact of the next box being positioned under the plunger.

Referring to Figure 1, it will be seen that at station No. 1, where the operator stands, the box B, which has side flaps W1, W2, W3 and W4, is centered on the wrapper. Since in a later operation the box and the wrapper must be moved laterally across the conveyor onto the folding machine and into abutting contact with the box which has previously been Wrapped, it is necessary that one side flap W1 be folded up against the adjacent edge of the plate before this lateral movement takes place. This first folding operation is performed at station No. 2 defined by the superstructure 44 (Fi ure 1). This superstructure straddles the conveyor belt, as shown in Figure 6, and includes upright corner post members 44a, lateral angle members 45 secured across the top of the posts 44a, and longitudinal bars 46 also secured thereacross.

The superstructure 44 supports a laterally extending fluid cylinder 47 secured to a base 43 which is adjustably mounted on an angle bracket 50 by means of bolts 51 which extend through slots 50a in the upper surface of the angle bracket 54?. The bracket 50 is also secured to the superstructure 44 by bolts 52.

The power cylinder 47 may be of any standard construction, being of a double-acting type having fluid inlet connections 53 and 54 and a piston rod 56 which extends from each end of the cylinder through suitable packing glands. An adjustable clamp 58 on one end of the piston rod regulates the throw of the piston, while the other end of the piston rod 56 carries a plate 59 that extends longitudinally of the conveyor across the superstructure for support at either end by rollers 61 which are mounted on a rod 62 secured to the plate 59 and which travel on the horizontal ledges of the angle members 45.

A secondary pusher plate 63 is secured to the bottom portion of the pusher plate 59 and is arranged to contact one side edge of the box B, as seen in Figure 6, and, as the piston rod 56 moves to the left, it will move the box laterally of the conveyor belt to a point abutting a pivoting arcuate stop member 64 with the flap W1 overhanging the edge of the conveyor belt. An air supply pipe 66 suitably mounted beneath the conveyor belt has a plurality of orifices which will direct air upwardly to the left to engage the flap W1 and prevent it from drooping down. The air jets therefore will hold the flap W1 in a substantially horizontal position. It will be understood, of course, that the pipe 66 will be connected to a suitable source of air under pressure.

The pusher plate 59 also carries a contact rod 68 which is adjustably threaded into the plate 59 and locked therein by lock nuts 69 and 69a. As the piston rod 56 of the power cylinder 47 moves to the left, the contact rod 68 will contact a plunger 71 of an electric switch 72, as shown in Figure 7, which will energize a solenoid controlled valve for directing air to the lower end of a doubleacting fluid cylinder 75 which is mounted by means of a bracket '76 from the superstructure 44. The piston rod 78 of the cylinder 75 carries at its upper end a head 79 which extends a considerable distance longitudinally of the conveyor belt and carries a rubber wiper 81 in a slot 82 of the head. As seen in Figure 7, as the head 79 moves upwardly, the wiper 31 wipes the flap W1 up against the side edge of the box B. An adjustable clamp 77 is secured to the lower end of the piston rod 73 to limit the upward movement of the rod.

The head 79 carries an upstanding peg 85 which, when the piston rod 78 is at the upper end of its stroke, contacts a plunger 86 of an electric switch 87 which energizes the solenoid controlled valve that directs air to the inlet 53 of the fluid cylinder 47 to retract the piston rod 56 and the pusher plate 59.

The head 79 also carries an upstanding arm 89 which normally rests against an outstanding arm 90 which is rigidly secured to a shaft 91 on which the pivoting stop member 64 is also keyed. As the head 79 moves upwardly, the arm will be actuated, as shown in Figure 7, and the pivoting stop will be pivoted away from the box B and out of the path of the oncoming wiper 81. A bar 93 is adjustably secured between the angle members 45 by means of set screws 94 threaded into slots 95 the bar 93. The function of the bar 93 is to lie close against the top of the box B, as shown in Figure 7, and prevent it from being raised off the conveyor belt as the wiper 81 moves the flap W1 up against the side of the box.

As :the plunger 56 of the cylinder 47 is retracted due to the tripping of the switch 87 by the peg 85 on the head 79 of the plunger 75, the contact between the arm 68 and the plunger 71 of the switch 72 is broken and the solenoid valve controlled by the switch '72 is deenergized and the piston rod 73 is moved downwardly by a spring mounted inside of the power cylinder 75.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that at Station No. 2 the box and the wrapper are first slid to the edge of the conveyor belt where the side flap W1 is wiped up against the side of the box B. The stop 64 prevents the box from being moved too far off the conveyor While the bar 93 prevents lifting of the box as the flap W1 is wiped up.

The box with the wrapper secured to the bottom surface thereof and with the one flap W1 moved onto the side edge is moved along to Station No. 3 as the conveyor belt is indexed. At this station the leading flap W2 slides under an adjustable stop arm 98 which is mounted in a block 99 (Figure 8) and secured therein by means of a set screw 100. As the side of the box B abuts this stop 98 a jet of air is directed downwardly into the box by means of a nozzle 152, suitably supported at this point and connected to a source of air under pressure. The air jet moves downwardly and diagonally into the box and pushes the box firmly against the stop 98 and rearwardly against a pair of suction cups 104 which are mounted on a pusher plate 105 (Figure 3) secured to the front end of a piston rod 106 extending fr om a power cylinder 107. The suction cups 104 are connected by a line 109 to a source of vacuum pressure.

It is the function of the pusher plate 105 tomove the box with its wrapper laterally 011 the conveyor belt onto the platform 43 of the folding machine and over to the position generally indicated by the aperture 42 (Figure 1). This is a rather long movement and one which requires a very long piston rod 106. It is therefore necessary that a carrier rod 110 be provided for this piston rod 106.

The cylinder 107 is provided with air inlets 112 and 113 and is mounted on a plate 115 which is adjustably mounted by bolts 114 in slots 116a of ways 116 which are rigidly mounted on a support structure 118. The support structure 118 may suitably include upright legs 118a and cross braces 11812.

To support the carrier rod 110 there is provided upstanding arms 120 which are rigidly secured to the end of the cylinder 107 for support thereby. The rod 110 is rigidly secured in the support members 120. Support arms 122 are rigidly attached to the end of the piston rod 106 and are provided with apertures 124 in their upper portion through which the carrier rod may freely pass. A compression spring 125 is disposed around the carrier rod 110 between each support am 120 and the associated arm 123.

In the position indicated in Figure 8 the piston rod 106 has been retracted to the right so that the support bracket at the right-hand end of the piston rod is supporting that end from the carrier rod 110. It will be understood that when the piston rod 106 is moved to the left to move the box B onto the folding machine, the opposite end of the piston rod will be supported.

At the proper point in the sequence of operations the piston rod 106 is moved out of the cylinder 107 to the left, pushing the box B onto the folding machine over the aperture 42 thereon. If a box has previously been wrapped, it will be moved off the platform 43 by the next box which is being positioned thereon. It is to be noted that the box B is still being held by the suction cups 104 and these cups will continue to hold it until the plunger of the folding machine takes the box away therefrom in the folding operation. At this point the plunger 106 will be retracted.

Thus, at station No. 3 the box is first positioned against the adjustable stop 98 and the suction cups 104. The piston rod 106 is then actuated to move the box onto the platform 43 of the folding machine to {thereby position it in place under the plunger.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that there is provided in this invention a simple, positively acting feeding mechanism which will automatically take the box after it has been centered on the wrapper, fold up one edge of the box so that that edge will not be wrinkled in subsequent operation, and then move the box into position under the plunger of the folding machine. With this apparatus the positioning of the box under the plunger of the folding machine is absolutely positive and accurate and there is no possibility of the box being spoiled due to inaccuracy of aligning. Further, the operator is completely relieved of the danger of getting his hand caught in the plunger of the folding machine.

It is a particular feature of this invention that .all of the various apparatus of this feeding device is adjustable for various sizes of boxes. It is contemplated that this machine will be arranged to accommodate boxes in the range of from a box three inches in length, two and onequarter inches in width, and one inch in height to a box twenty-one inches in length, thirteen inches in width, and four and one-quarter inches in height. To this end the various power cylinders are 'adjustably mounted on their support structure, the holddown bar .93 is adjustable vertically, the throw of the piston rod of the various .cyl-

a solenoid fcontrolled valve 1 4i).

inders may be adjusted, and the stop bar 98 may :be=-adjusted.

It will be understood, of course, that the drive mechanism of the gluing machine 15 is such that for each revolution of the shaft 22 the conveyor belt will be indexed a distance equal to the distance between the stations Nos. 1, 2 and 3. It is further to be noted that the arm 23 is so positioned on the rod 22 as to'contact, the plunger of the switch 24 just at the end .of the indexing movement.

It is contemplated in this invention that the Starting of each indexing stroke of the conveyor belt 1.0 will be timed with the downward movement of the vplunger .40. This is accomplished by means of a cable which is attached at one .end to theswitch 20 and at the other end a depending ear 131a of a table 131 which is slidably mounted in a slot 132 in a housing 133. The housing 133 may be secured to a member oftthe support structure 26 adjacent a cam 134- which is keyed to the shaft 29. As the cam 134 rotates with the shaft 29 it will contact the table 131 and slide it into the slot 132 against the resistits downward travel.

in Figure 9 is shown a schematic view of a control circuit for the feeding device .of this invention. In this View it is seen that the fluid cylinder {67 is provided with In this diagrammatic showing the solenoids 1511 and142 areconnected to a'rod insidethe valve 14:0 which controls the shifting of the air valve. The valve may suitably have two vent connections 145 and 146, two air outlet connections i47and 143, and an air inlet connection Flexible tu bes and 151 connect the valve to the cylinder 47.

Similarly, the passage of air through the cylinder 75 is controlled by a valve 152 controlled by a solenoid 153. The valve housing has an air inlet connection 155, air vents 156 and 157, and air outlets to the cylinders 158 an 5 H Th c i d 07 is squas ed by a a v v te which in turn is controlled by a solenoid 162. Air dines 6 d 1 .4 co n c the nde .07 to he a va 161. The valve housing has bent ports 1 65 and 166 and an a v l onne t on 6.

Assume to start the cycle of operations that the ,one

revolution clutch of the machine 15 has .just been actuated and the arm 23 is tntwing through itsrotation. Just at the end of the movement of the conveyor belt the switch 24 is tripped by the arm 23, thus energizing the solenoid 142 from a source of power 171} h ough the conductor 171, the conductor 172, the switch 25, tthe conductor 173, the Winding of the solenoid 142', ,the conductor 174, the conductor 175 to the other .side .of {the line 176.

When the solenoid 142 is energized, the plunger will be moved in the valve 140 to admit air to the dine 151 .which directs air tooue side of thecylinder .47, thuscausing the piston rod 56 to be moved across the .conveyor belt 10. The pusher plate 59 movesithe .box to .theedge of the conveyor belt 10 so .that the overhangingflapmay be wiped upwardly by the head 79 of the cylinder 75. Just as the box abuts the pivoting stop .64, the .rod ,68 contacts the plunger 71 of the switch 72 to closethis normally open switch and thus energize the solenoid :1-53 from the source of power through .the conductor-1'78, windings of the solenoid 153, the conductor 179, the switch 72, the conductor 180, and the conductor 17510 the other side of the line. When the solenoid .is energized, the valve 152 will .be adjusted to direct air-to the left-hand side of the cylinder 75, as shown .in Figure 9. As the head 79 of the cylinder 75 moves upwardly, it wipes the :fiap W2 of the wrapper against theiside of the box, and, just at .theendof .the wiping ;strol e,..=the .peg x85 on the head 79 contacts the plunger 86 of the normally open switch 87 to close the switch and thus energize the solenoid 141 which controls the valve 1 10. The solenoid 141 is energized from the power source 170 through the conductor 182, the switch 87, the windings of the solenoid 141, the conductor 183, and the conductor 175 to the other side of the line.

It will be understood, of course, that the arms 23 only momentarily close the switch 24 and momentarily energize the solenoid 142. Since the solenoid 142 is not energized when the switch 87 is closed, the solenoid 141 can shift the valve 140 in an opposite direction to direct air to the top end of the cylinder 47 and thus retract the pusher plate 59 and permit the switch 72 to automatically open. When the switch 72 opens, the solenoid 153 will vs No he deenergized and a spring in the cylinder will mo it to its lower retracted position.

The operation of the cylinders 47 and 75 takes place between the periods at which the conveyor belt is indexed and while the conveyor belt is motionless. After these operations are complete, the conveyor belt will be indexed in response to the downward movement of the plunger 40, and the box will be moved to Station 3 in front of the pusher plate 105. V

The valve 161 is actuated by the solenoid 162 to direct air to the lower end of the cylinder through the line 165 when a cam 1% (Figures 1 and 2) keyed to the lower end of the shaft 29 actuates a normally open switch. The cam 190 is so designed that it will hold the switch 191 closed during about one-third of its rotation. During the time the switch is closed, the solenoid 162 will be energized and air will be directed through the line 165 to one end of the cylinder 1137, and the pusher plate 185 will be actuated to move the box into position under the plunger 140 of the folding machine.

The solenoid 162 is energized from the power source 170 through the conductor 193, the windings of the solenoid 162, the conductor 194, the switch 191, the conductor 195, and the conductor 175 to the other side of the line.

The box will be held in this position until the ram moves downwardly and takes it from the suction cups 104. Soon thereafter the cam permits the switch to open and deenergize the solenoid 162, whereby a spring in the valve 161 will shift the valve member and direct air to the opposite end of the cylinder 107 to return the pusher plate 105 to its initial position.

In summary, the movement of the conveyor belt is controlled by the downward movement of the plunger. The actuation of the pusher plate 59 of the cylinder 47 is controlled by the switch 24 which is actuated by the lever 23 connected to the gluing machine 15. The solenoid 153 of the cylinder 75 is energi ed by the forward movement of the pusher plate 59 and is deenergized by the backward movement of that plate. Also, the upward movement of the pusher plate 79 of the cylinder 75 retracts the pusher plate 59 to its initial position.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that there is provided in this invention a novelcfiicient feeding mechanism which is adaptable for use with standard gluing and conveying equipment and is simple in construction and operation. This feeding mechanism substantially eliminates the possibility of injuries to the operator and spoilage of the boxes. Further, this equipment will greatly increase production due to this decrease in spoilage and also due to the fact that the operator has only one duty to perform. This simple job of sliding the cardboard shell on the wrapper does not require a skilled operator. The adaptation of air power and solenoid valve control to the feeding mechanism not only providesv lowinitial cost of the equipment but also reduces maintenance cost due to its simplicity of operation.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A device for moving an article along a support surface, said article having'a wrapper secured to the bottom wall thereof and having flaps extending beyond the marginal edges of the article, comprising a support structure straddling said support surface, a first power cylinder mounted on said structure and having a piston rod reciprocable laterally above said support surface to contact an article thereon and move it across the support surface, a pivotal stop member limiting the movement of said article to position the article at the edge of the support surface with one wrapper flap extending thereover, a second power cylinder mounted vertically alongside the edge of said first support surface and having a piston rod arranged to fold said overhanging flap against the side of the article, a control unit for said second power cylinder mounted on said structure, means on the piston rod of said first power cylinder for actuating said control unit to energize said'second power cylinder, a switch on said structure controlling the retraction of said first piston rod, and means on the piston rod of said second power cylinder to trip said switch, efiecting retraction of said second piston rod.

2. In a box making machine or the like having a surface for supporting an article having a wrapper secured to the bottom wall thereof and having flaps extending beyond the marginal edges of the article, means reciprocabic laterally of the surface for pushing the article laterally to a position at one side of the surface with a flap overhanging the edge of the'surface, means reciprocahle vertically'for folding the overhanging flap against one side of the article, and means actuated by said laterally reciprocable means when the box is moved to said position for initiating upward movement of said vertically reciprocable means.

3. In a box making machine or the like having'a surface for supporting an article having a wrapper secured to the bottom wall thereof and having flaps extending beyond the marginal edges of the article, means reciprocable laterally of the surface for pushing the article laterally to a position at one side of the surface with a flap overhanging the edge of the surface, means reciprocable vertically for folding the overhanging flap against one side of the article, and switch means actuated by said laterally reciprocable means when the box is moved to said position for initiating upward movement of said vertically reciprocable means.

4. In a box making machine or the like having a surface for supporting an article having a wrapper secured to the bottom wall thereof and having flaps extending beyond the marginal edges of the article, means reciprocable laterally of the surface for pushing the article laterally to a position at one side of the surface with a flap overhanging the edge of the surface, means reciprocahle vertically for folding the overhanging flap against one side of the article, means actuated by said laterally reciprocable means when the box is moved to said position for initiating upward movement of said vertically reciprocablc means, and means actuated by said vertically reciprocable means at the limit of its upward movement for initiating return movement of said laterally reciprocable means.

5. In a box making machine or the like having a surface for supporting an article having a wrapper secured to the bottom wall thereof and having flaps extending beyond the marginal edges of the article, means reciprocable laterally of the surface for pushing the article laterally to a position at one side of the surface with a flap overhanging the edge of the surface, means reciprocable vertically for folding the overhanging flap against one side of the article, switch means actuated by said laterally recip rocable means when the box is moved to said position for initiating upward movement of said vertically reciprocable means, and switch meansactuated by said vertically reciprocable means at the limit of its upward movement for initiating return movement of said laterally reciprocable means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Hunter Nov. 28, 1916 Federwitz Apr. 18, 1930 Freese Dec. 29, 1931 Bowman May 2, 1931 Schwab June 11, 1935 10 Lytle et al Aug. 4, 1936 Fleischer et al Mar. 30, 1937 Stokes Sept. 7, 1937 Stokes Sept. 7, 1937 Miller Oct. 26, 1937 Schmidt July 1, 1941 Matthews Nov. 11, 1941 Sergent Oct. 30, 1942 Sandberg Jan. 20, 1948 Vergobbi May 13, 1952 

